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¡°Fertility effect¡± or ¡°supporting effect?¡± ¡ªQuantity of children and parental health

Author

Listed:
  • CHEN Guodong

    (National School of Development (China Center for Economic Research), Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

  • LEI Xiaoyan

    (National School of Development (China Center for Economic Research), Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

Abstract

Using the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, we try to identify the effect that quantity of children has on the health statuses of elderly parents. After dealing with a potential endogeneity problem using instrumental variable estimation, we find no significant long-arm “fertility effect,” but do find a positive “supporting effect” of the quantity of children on parental health. That is, giving birth to more children has no significant effect, but the availability of additional children in old age has a beneficial effect on health during that time. Further investigation yields a more significant effect on mothers than on fathers, and a more pronounced effect on cognitive health than on physical health, as measured by occurrences of hypertension.

Suggested Citation

  • CHEN Guodong & LEI Xiaoyan, 2009. "¡°Fertility effect¡± or ¡°supporting effect?¡± ¡ªQuantity of children and parental health," Frontiers of Economics in China-Selected Publications from Chinese Universities, Higher Education Press, vol. 4(4), pages 601-616, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:fec:journl:v:4:y:2009:i:4:p:601-616
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    File URL: http://journal.hep.com.cn/fec/EN/10.1007/s11459-009-0032-1
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    quantity of children; fertility effect; supporting effect; parental health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General

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